COLUMBIA - Ryan Howard smacked a three-run home run in a five-run fifth inning to help the Missouri baseball team capture a 5-3 win Sunday against the Florida Gators at Taylor Stadium.
Missouri, which took the final two games of the three-game series, fell behind 1-0 after the Gators scored a run in the second inning.
But the Tigers put together their big fifth-inning to take control, as the frame also included RBI singles by Alex Del Rio and Brett Peel to take the lead. Howard later gave the Tigers a big cushion with his two-out shot.
The Gators made things interesting by pushing across two runs with one out in the top of the ninth, but a popup and a fly out ended the game.
Peel ended up with two hits and one RBI, while Trey Harris, Zach Lavy and Case Munson added two hits apiece. Missouri outhit Florida 10-5.
Peter Fairbanks (3-3) got the win after pitching the first five innings. He allowed just one earned run on two hits and one walk while striking out six.
Andrew Schwaab worked two scoreless innings after that, allowing just one hit while striking out four. Breckin Williams finished up, allowing two earned runs in two innings on two hits while striking out one.
The Tigers are now 22-11, including an 8-4 mark in the Southeastern Conference. The Gators fell to 24-9 and 6-6.
Missouri plays again Thursday through Saturday with a trip to Knoxville, Tenn., to take on Tennessee.